Salsa

Fresh, good, in-season ingredients are the key to good salsa (and good raw anything). So, northerners, make these now, when corn and tomatoes are as they won't be for another year. Happy Labor Day!

4 tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped
3/4 bell pepper of your choosing, roughly chopped
1/2 jalapeno, roughly chopped
2 shallots, quartered
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup cilantro
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp maple syrup
salt + pepper

kernels from 3 ears of corn
3/4 bell pepper of your choosing, roughly chopped
1/2 jalapeno, roughly chopped
2 shallots, quartered
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup cilantro
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp maple syrup
salt + pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

For each of these recipes: Use a food processor to chop up all the vegetables (except the corn kernels), then stir them together in a large mixing bowl. Add the lime juice and (my secret ingredient) [real] maple syrup. Season to taste with salt and red or black pepper. Stir some olive oil into the corn salsa if it's dry.